Douglas Fir Eco Home

Precise design creates a stylish yet calm atmosphere

Location:Norfolk

Completed:2009

Architect:Roderick James Architects

Materials:Douglas Fir, Steel

Award:Britain's Best Home 2009

Winner of Britain's Best Home in 2009

Taking two years to design, two years to work through planning and three years to complete the building works, this very contemporary Douglas fir frame went up in 10 days and according to homeowner Amanda Barrington was ‘fabulous, perfect and with no alterations needed’.

Amanda lived on-site in a caravan for 18 months and really gained an understanding of the site, with the undulating design of the house was inspired by the shape of the hills it sits within.

The house was designed by Hugh Wray McCann of Roderick James Architects and is a contemporary frame constructed in Douglas fir with nine curved roofs, sandwiched posts, stainless steel bowstring trusses and multiple floor levels.

The house comprises a sitting room, reception room, dining room, gallery, kitchen room, gallery, four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Large, energy-efficient hardwood windows let in plenty of light with almost no heat loss; banks of glazed doors open onto the garden on three sides. Collected rainwater is used to supplement the water supply and all timbers used in the building come from sustainable sources.

It consisted of three interlinked structures of differing heights, whose gently curving roofs are planted with spring-flowering pink and white sedum, an effective and eco-friendly form of insulation.

Western red cedar was used to clad the exterior, chosen to reflect the different colours of the leaves in the surrounding trees through the changing seasons. The completed build measures 3000 square feet. As a property consultant, Amanda knew exactly what she wanted and how to ask for it.

‘I really like how precise and committed Carpenter Oak staff are, what they do really comes from the heart: in their work with their clients and their carpentry, I wouldn’t work with another timber framer. You are all an amazing group of people and a fantastic company. We have been made speechless by the frame it is just an amazing piece of design, and put together as if it was a piece of lego! I can imagine how much hard work, thought and effort must have gone into creating such a masterpiece. Thank you, thank you and thank you again for making it so problem-free and creating our dream into reality.’ Amanda Barrington